3 Teams that LSU should have been ranked ahead of in the Coaches Poll

The first US LBM Coaches Poll was released on Monday giving us our first set of rankings to base teams off of. LSU came in ranked 12th which would put them right outside of the College Football Playoff given the fact that a Group of Five team must be featured. After a ton of turnover, 12th seems like a fair ranking of LSU until you look at three of the teams ranked ahead of LSU.

3. Michigan Wolverines

LSU has nearly the most turnover in college football aside from the Michigan Wolverines. Jim Harbaugh has left for Los Angeles leaving behind a National Championship and an NCAA investigation. The Wolverines lost 13 players to the NFL Draft 7 of which were top 100 selections as well as defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. The Wolverines weren't too active in the transfer portal however, they lost safety Keon Sabb to Alabama. There's a ton of uncertainty around this team in replacing Jim Harbaugh and the key pieces of the offense, add in the uncertainty around the NCAA investigation and its hard to see how the Wolverines rank 8th.

2. Missouri Tigers

After an impressive 2023 everyone is penciling in the Missouri Tigers as a college football playoff team however are we sure they'll perform that well. In 2023, Missouri beat most of the teams at the bottom of the SEC while losing to LSU and Georgia while they beat Tennessee and a depleted Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. The Tigers left side of the offensive line will be anchored by two incoming transfers while they'll be tasked with replacing the production of running back Cody Schrader. They will also have a new defensive coordinator as LSU hired away Blake Baker who turned Missouri's defense around. There is plenty to like about Missouri but, being ranked 11th early feels too high.

1. Penn State Nittany Lions

Once again, the Penn State Nittany Lions come into a season with high expectations as the team ranked ninth in the Coaches Poll. Would anyone be shocked if Penn State once again underperforms especially in a loaded Big Ten? The Nittany Lions replace both coordinators and lose eight draft picks four of which went in the top 110 picks. LSU was likely held back because of its defensive questions but, are Penn State's offensive questions not as bad if not worse than LSU's?

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